Personally Speaking, I want to extend special congratulations to my good friend and jail-buddy, Tillman Thomas, on his own victory and that of his National Democratic Congress in the General Elections on Tuesday and their opportunity to form the new Government of Grenada.

I think it is generally known by people who take the trouble to pay attention to me that my position is that after a political party has been in government for three consecutive terms, it is time for a change. However, apart from Tillman himself, I did not see many of the NDC candidates that I considered to be acceptable governmental/ ministerial material so I did not vote for the party.

But long before I could get a chance to see whether or not I misjudged some of his people who were elected, at least one of his uncouth adherents has set about putting fear and doubts in the minds of lots of people and, thank God, that person was not even a candidate in the elections.

Unfortunately Tillo, I miss too much that comes over radio and television so I did not hear much of your first formal address to the nation. However, I think I did hear you call on us to hold you accountable for your party's promises in its manifesto. And you did promise that you would operate at a high standard and insist that your colleagues do the same.

Well, I feel certain that by the time you were delivering the address you must have been aware of some awful, and I consider unlawful, behaviour on the part of at least one of your party "officials" who apparently went on a rampage soon after the results of the elections were known. And I think the matter has spread so widely that I believe anyone who is reading this must know that I am referring to none other than your party's PRO Vincent Roberts.

I am disappointed that you did not apologise for his misbehaviour. However, before I start to deal with the rampaging Vincent, let me deal with what I consider to be even worse behaviour that I am not certain he was responsible for, although I suspect he was.

How could you condone (I hope not initiate) the action of withdrawing the security detail and the government-owned vehicles assigned to prime minister Mitchell the same night of the election?

True we cannot afford to do like America, I think England, and some other countries, and give former prime ministers all these privileges. However, here is a man that served our country very well (and even if you leave out that part) for almost 15 years? And please remember Tillo, that you were only prime minister designate, without any authority, until you took the oath of office on Wednesday at about 2 pm!

You did not even have the authority to ask the governor-general to declare Wednesday a public holiday when you did which I gather was in the middle of the night on Tuesday. Was that Vincent or you? I am too embarrassed to even ask the G-G about it. Did you notice that your experienced predecessor indicated that (if he won) the public holiday would be on Friday?

But let me turn to Vincent before I run out of space.

My understanding is that, before "taking over" the compound, he did not even allow a chance for Dr Keith Mitchell to go to his office to collect personal items which, even Vincent who might never have occupied an office must expect that even in a shorter time than 15 years, he would have accumulated some personal items -- even photographs!

But even worse treatment was meted out by Vincent Roberts to a long time employee in the Ministerial Complex -- Ms Cheryl Williams who, apparently expecting to be dismissed, went to the office in which she worked to collect some documents and not even take them away, as I understand it, and put them in another place (after first advising the permanent secretary).

My understanding is that Vincent had her taken into custody and brought to the CID where she was interrogated and eventually spent about four hours!

Well for that, I also blame the police. I don't know if they were under the impression or Vincent gave them the impression that he had some authority to deal with any matter in the compound -- but clearly, he typically went too far.

This kind of thing smacks too much of the days of the People's Revolutionary Government when Maurice Bishop boasted, "I just have to sign a paper, and is up the hill" for them! Although you too suffered at their hands, Tillo, and you have shown that you are broad-minded and forgiving enough to be associated with some of them, remember the old saying that "a leopard cannot change its spots" and be constantly on your guard.

Now, prime minister, I understand you to say that you will try to work in harmony with the opposition and with civil society to promote the good and welfare of the country and the people. Commendable idea, and I encourage Dr Mitchell and his group to give their support to this idea if you are allowed to pursue it.

There are many projects in the pipeline; and whether they involve local or foreign investors; and whether you discover that baksheesh was paid, as I believe some people are claiming, or not, please examine them closely and see that they are carried out in accordance with what is right and legal. Don't just abandon them as that would deter future would-be investors.

But I saved what I think is the best for last.

As I ashamedly said, I did not have time to study the manifestos, but I believe I heard you say that you would establish Local Government. Well that happens to be one thing I hold against the Mitchell regime, although generally speaking I think they gave a good account of their stewardship.

I believe Local Government is very important. Not only does it provide for participatory government with village people getting a chance to have a say in what is done in their communities and in their country. It also provides a training ground for potential future legislators and even prime ministers.

It will have its costs, but I honestly consider it to be even more important than your proposed comprehensive school book scheme. This could be wasteful as I am certain that there are many parents who can afford to provide their children with their books. I would prefer to see a school book assistance scheme in which demonstrated need would be attended to in the same way as the outgoing government had a food assistance scheme for the needy.

In all such schemes, of course, there is the necessity for close monitoring and even auditing because they can be open to abuse not only or necessarily by the politicians but also, or more likely by people who are administering them.

Let me end by calling on every citizen to give their full cooperation to the government and their programmes for the well-being of all of us, and for the future of our country!

This article was published in the July 12, 2008 edition of the Grenadian Voice of which Leslie Pierre is the Publisher and Managing Editor.

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